Organised by Harrow Black History Month (BHM) group this talk is part of a series of public events which run up until December, based on the theme of ‘African British Civil Rights Since The 1960s’ looking at African civil rights histories in the UK.

Focusing on the issue of black deaths in custody, MacAttram’s talk will chart the history of some of the most significant cases of those who have had contact or were in the care of mental health services over the past four decades and what lessons can be learnt from these tragedies.

The lethal treatment that has been meted out to some of the most vulnerable people from the UK’s African Caribbean communities is a core focus of the work of BMH UK, this talk organised by Harrow BHM group, comes as Black Mental Health UK has just launched a national campaign against black deaths in custody.

This new campaign is part or the human rights campaigns group work to bring an end to the high levels of force and punitive treatment that people from the UK’s African Caribbean communities are often subject to when they come in to contact with mental health services.

Delegates attending this event will also find out how they can support this campaign.

Matilda MacAttram director of Black Mental Health UK said: ‘I welcome the work of the Harrow Black History Month Group, and the focus they have placed on African British Civil Right and the achievements and challenges that have been faced by this community since the 1960’s.

This event presents an opportunity to learn about some of the most significant and historic successes that have been made by people who had the courage and commitment to stand up and speak out against injustices regardless of the challenges that they faced. It also provides a forum for people to find out what the most pressing concerns are at the moment and how every individual can play their part in speaking against injustices, particularly when in comes to deaths in custody.’